The North Ballarat Rebels suffered a minor setback in their TAC Cup Under 18 premiership quest with a 41 point loss to Dandenong Stingrays at the MCG on Saturday.
The Rebels lost their way in the opening quarter with inaccurate kicking for goal, 1.6, and never recovered.
For North Ballarat it was a case of deja vu. The Rebels had the same affliction in front of goal against Dandenong mid season, when the Stingrays also ran out clear-cut winners.
North Ballarat was not the only flag contender to have a hiccup. Murray Bushrangers provided a major boilover by defeating the previously unbeaten Calder Cannons by 28 points.
While Dandenong and Murray have a week off, North Ballarat now faces archrival Bendigo Pioneers and Calder meets the Eastern Ranges in cut-throat semi finals.
Down 11 points a quarter time, North Ballarat had a couple of what should have been straightforward chances in attack which would have closed up the contest.
Again though the Rebels were off target. The on song Stingrays added four goals before half time and, with a 26 point advantage as a launching pad, kicked on.
North Ballarat's defence battled valiantly, led by Josh Thurgood, Matt Rosa and Corey Fagg. Thurgood had the big job of looking after leading goalkicker Luke Herrington. Herrington kicked a couple of early goals but from that point on Thurgood had the better of the contest.
On-ballers Danny Grellet and Matt Sharkey helped North Ballarat match Dandenong around the ground where ruckman Nathan Anderson was able to take some telling marks.
On top of the loss, the Rebels also lost Jed Adcock before half time with damaged finger tendons in his right hand. He appears doubtful for North Ballarat's next assignment.
Despite the defeat, coach Anthony Rock said the Rebels would concentrate on the positives to come out of the game and those that had put them in the finals.
North Ballarat has beaten Bendigo twice this season and will be looking to maintain that record when they meet again at Optus Oval at 2.15pm this coming Saturday.
Dandenong Stingrays 14.13 (97) d North Ballarat Rebels 7.14 (56)
Goals: George 2, Hurse 2, Young 2, Campbell
Best: Thurgood, Rosa, Grellet, Sharkey, Anderson, Fagg
Last Modified on 08/02/2009 13:48
